Bank Nagelmackers

Bank Nagelmackers, historically known as Banque Nagelmackers, is a Belgian private bank with roots reaching back to 1747 in Liège. Founded by Pierre Nagelmackers, the institution developed as a family banking business and is generally described as Belgium's oldest bank and one of the oldest surviving banks in the world. Its long history has included repeated changes of legal form, ownership, branding, and strategic direction, while the Nagelmackers name has periodically been restored after periods in which it was replaced by the identity of a parent group. The bank's original base was Liège, but its activities gradually developed a strong Brussels presence. In 1810, the institution acquired a building at Place de Louvain 12 in Brussels. That property was rebuilt in 1870 according to plans by architect Antoine Trappeniers and later served as the bank's head office. By the late twentieth century, the registered office remained in Liège while Brussels had become the principal operational centre, with Namur also serving as an important location. The Nagelmackers family was involved in the civic and commercial life of Liège, including efforts connected with the 1905 Liège International Exposition. The business was reorganized in 1910 as a société en commandite simple under the name Nagelmackers Fils & Cie. In 1935, financier Paul de Launoit acquired shares from several members of the Nagelmackers family, marking an important step away from purely family-controlled ownership. During the 1970s, the institution adopted the name Banque Nagelmackers 1747, explicitly highlighting its founding date and historic identity. A more pronounced phase of consolidation began in the 1990s. In 1990, the banking business was acquired by Banque Nationale de Paris, later known as BNP Paribas. BNP sold the bank to Belgian insurer P&V Verzekeringen in 1994. P&V subsequently sold it to Dutch insurer Delta Lloyd in 2001. Delta Lloyd replaced the Nagelmackers identity with Delta Lloyd Bank in 2005 and also sold the bank's Luxembourg operations to Banque Degroof during the same year. Delta Lloyd announced the sale of its banking arm to Anbang in December 2014. The transaction closed several months later, and the Nagelmackers brand returned in October 2015. Under the revived identity, the bank continued to concentrate on wealthy individuals, families, and related private-banking needs, using a network of local branches and independent agents rather than positioning itself as a mass-market retail bank. In mid-2021, the institution was reported to have 22 branches and 41 independent agents. As part of a downsizing program, Banque Nagelmackers moved to a new head office at Rue Montoyer 14 in Brussels in 2022. In July 2024, it was purchased from Anbang by Caisse d'Epargne Hauts de France, a regional French bank belonging to Groupe BPCE. The transaction placed the Belgian private-bank franchise within the BPCE group while preserving the Nagelmackers name and its Belgian market orientation. Publicly available reference material identifies the bank as active and focused on private banking, but does not provide sufficient detail here to describe its current financial scale, executive team, product profitability, or post-acquisition operating structure.

Banque Nagelmackers traces its origins to 1747, when Pierre Nagelmackers established the banking business in Liège. His son, Gérard Nagelmackers, continued its development, helping turn the enterprise into a durable family institution. The bank's history is notable both for its longevity and for its movement between family ownership, insurance groups, banking groups, and later private-equity-linked ownership. In 1810, the bank acquired a building at Place de Louvain 12 in Brussels. The building was reconstructed in 1870 to a design by architect Antoine Trappeniers and eventually became the institution's head office. Although Liège remained central to the bank's identity and registered-office history, Brussels increasingly became the principal centre of operations. Namur was also among its principal locations by the late 1980s. Members of the Nagelmackers family participated in the economic and civic life of Liège, including promotion of the Liège International Exposition held in 1905. The institution changed its legal structure in 1910, becoming a société en commandite simple under the name Nagelmackers Fils & Cie. In 1935, financier Paul de Launoit acquired shares from several Nagelmackers family members. The bank later adopted the name Banque Nagelmackers 1747 during the 1970s, using its founding year to emphasize its historical continuity. Ownership changed substantially after 1990. Banque Nationale de Paris acquired the banking business in that year. In 1994, BNP sold it to Belgian insurer P&V Verzekeringen, which sold the bank to Dutch insurer Delta Lloyd in 2001. Delta Lloyd replaced the Nagelmackers name with Delta Lloyd Bank in 2005. It also disposed of the Luxembourg operations to Banque Degroof during that year, separating those activities from the Belgian franchise. In December 2014, Delta Lloyd announced the sale of its banking arm to Anbang. After the transaction closed, the Nagelmackers identity was revived in October 2015. The restored bank focused on affluent clients and families, using a network of local offices and independent agents to deliver private-banking and related financial services. Reference material reports that the bank had 22 branches and 41 independent agents in mid-2021. A downsizing program preceded a move to a new Brussels head office at Rue Montoyer 14 in 2022. The next major ownership transition occurred in July 2024, when Caisse d'Epargne Hauts de France acquired Nagelmackers from Anbang. Caisse d'Epargne Hauts de France is part of Groupe BPCE, a major French banking group. The acquisition gave Nagelmackers a new institutional owner while retaining its Belgian private-bank identity. Detailed current information on its management, financial results, and product-level operations is not established by the supplied reference material.

1. 2024Acquisition by Caisse d'Epargne Hauts de France

   Caisse d'Epargne Hauts de France acquired Nagelmackers from Anbang in July, bringing it into Groupe BPCE.

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2. 2022Head office relocated within Brussels

   The bank moved its head office to Rue Montoyer 14 in Brussels during a downsizing program.

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3. 2015Nagelmackers brand revived

   After the Anbang acquisition, the historic Nagelmackers brand returned in October.

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4. 2005Delta Lloyd branding and Luxembourg disposal

   Delta Lloyd replaced the Nagelmackers brand with Delta Lloyd Bank and sold the Luxembourg operations to Banque Degroof.

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5. 2001Sale to Delta Lloyd

   P&V sold the bank to Dutch insurer Delta Lloyd.

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6. 1994Sale to P&V Verzekeringen

   BNP sold the bank to Belgian insurer P&V Verzekeringen.

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7. 1990Banking business acquired by Banque Nationale de Paris

   The bank's banking business was acquired by Banque Nationale de Paris.

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8. 1970Adoption of the Banque Nagelmackers 1747 name

   During the 1970s, the bank adopted a name incorporating its founding year to reinforce its historic identity.

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9. 1935Paul de Launoit acquires family-held shares

   Financier Paul de Launoit purchased shares from several members of the Nagelmackers family.

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10. 1910Legal restructuring as Nagelmackers Fils & Cie

    The institution was reorganized as a société en commandite simple under the name Nagelmackers Fils & Cie.

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11. 1870Brussels building reconstructed

    The Place de Louvain building was rebuilt according to a design by architect Antoine Trappeniers.

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12. 1810Acquisition of Brussels property

    The bank acquired a building at Place de Louvain 12 in Brussels, which later became an important head-office location.

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13. 1747Bank founded in Liège

    Pierre Nagelmackers founded the banking business in Liège, establishing the institution's historic origin.

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A long-established Belgian private bank combining heritage, local offices, and personalized service for affluent individuals and families.

• Private bankingPrivate banking

  The bank's principal positioning is private banking for wealthy individuals and families. Its model emphasizes relationship-based service delivered through local offices and independent agents. The supplied sources do not specify particular portfolio mandates, minimum asset thresholds, or detailed advisory structures.

• Wealth managementWealth management

  Nagelmackers provides wealth-oriented banking and investment services associated with its affluent-client focus. Available reference material supports the existence of this broad business area but does not identify specific funds, discretionary mandates, or named investment products.

• Savings, deposits, and lendingBanking services

  As a bank serving private clients, Nagelmackers offers general banking services such as savings and deposit facilities and lending. The supplied sources do not provide a current catalogue or product-level terms, so these offerings are described only at category level.

• 2024Sale to Caisse d'Epargne Hauts de FranceM&A

  After its period under Anbang ownership, Nagelmackers was sold in the context of a new ownership transition.

  What changed. Caisse d'Epargne Hauts de France acquired the bank in July 2024 and brought it into Groupe BPCE.

  Aftermath. The transaction placed the Belgian private bank under a French regional banking group. The supplied material does not establish subsequent management or integration changes.

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• 2022Downsize and relocate the head officeStrategy

  The bank undertook a downsizing program.

  What changed. It moved its head office to Rue Montoyer 14 in Brussels.

  Aftermath. The relocation consolidated the bank's headquarters in Brussels; further operational effects are not specified in the supplied material.

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• 2015Revive the Nagelmackers brandStrategy

  The brand had been absent from the market during the Delta Lloyd Bank period.

  What changed. Following the change to Anbang ownership, the historic Nagelmackers name was relaunched in October 2015.

  Aftermath. The bank continued to operate in Belgium with a private-banking focus and a network of local offices and independent agents.

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• 2005Replace the Nagelmackers identity with Delta Lloyd BankStrategy

  After acquiring the bank in 2001, Delta Lloyd changed the customer-facing identity in 2005.

  What changed. The Nagelmackers brand was replaced by Delta Lloyd Bank; the Luxembourg operations were also sold to Banque Degroof.

  Aftermath. The historic brand was later restored after the bank became part of Anbang's banking interests.

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• 2024Caisse d'Epargne Hauts de France acquires Nagelmackers from Anbang

  In July 2024, Caisse d'Epargne Hauts de France, part of Groupe BPCE, purchased the Belgian private bank from Anbang.

  M&A
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• 2024Caisse d'Epargne Hauts de France acquires Banque Nagelmackers

  Caisse d'Epargne Hauts de France, part of Groupe BPCE, purchased Banque Nagelmackers from Anbang in July 2024.

  M&A
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• 2022Banque Nagelmackers moves Brussels head office

  During a downsizing program, the bank relocated its head office to Rue Montoyer 14 in Brussels.

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• 2015Nagelmackers brand returns after Delta Lloyd period

  Following the completion of the Anbang transaction, the historic Nagelmackers brand was restored in October 2015 after having been replaced by Delta Lloyd Bank in 2005.

  Other
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• 2015Nagelmackers brand revived after Anbang acquisition

  Following completion of the ownership transaction, the historic Nagelmackers name returned to the Belgian banking business in October 2015.

  M&AOther
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• 2014Delta Lloyd announces sale of its banking arm to Anbang

  Delta Lloyd announced the planned sale of its banking activities to Anbang, initiating the ownership transition that later led to the return of the Nagelmackers name.

  M&A
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1. Banque Nagelmackers
2. Bank Nagelmackers official website